Tendulkar is just another batsman: Siddle

Sachin Tendulkar has 664 runs from four Tests at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). "The SCG has obviously been my favourite ground away from India. It's a terrific ground, a special place. I love the atmosphere. It's wonderful. There are these certain grounds where you walk out there feeling you're going to do well and the SCG is one of those grounds where I feel comfortable," he was quoted as saying by Herald Sun yesterday.

In three days time, Tendulkar will look to get his 100th international century at his beloved ground. Sir Donald Bradman got his 100th first-class century at the same venue, against India in 1947-48. Sense the alignment of stars here?

There's one man, Peter Siddle, who is gunning to stop that from happening. Tendulkar was the first batsman Siddle ever dismissed in Tests, on debut in Mohali in 2008-09. Since then, the hustling Victorian has scalped Tendulkar another two times in the just-concluded Melbourne Test. Siddle said he could not forget the first ball after tea on Day 2 when Tendulkar upper cut him for a six. "Oh, it was just an edge, obviously," he gagged.

"Jokes apart, it was a good stroke from him, I couldn't do much about it. On another day, he would have edged that to the wicketkeeper, and on his day it would carry over the fence. But, I am glad to have got him twice in the Test. "Both the dismissals were totally different -- one was bowled, the other one was caught, it was a bit wider," Siddle told reporters a day after Australia's 122-run victory at the MCG.

No Sach plan

When asked if he had devised a special plan for the little master, Siddle said: "Not really, there's no big secret there. I was lucky that I bowled a couple of good balls before that and put a bit of pressure on him... and got the wicket. I was patient, and knew that rewards would come. As a unit, we have done that, stuck together really well. It's all about being consistent, bowling long spells. That's how we have got most of our wickets," he added.

"Sachin is a big scalp and to get him out is nice. But, for me it's just another batsman. I don't care where it's an opener or number 11... you are always searching for wickets. But, there is a lot more cricket to be played in this series, and hopefully I can get him (Sachin) again and keep winning Tests for my country," he said.